Giving It All

by Taylor Gibbs

He knew the rumors had gone around, both about what had happened in interrogation and on the bus. He was on administrative leave for a few days, had been physically kicked out of the office by Vance and SecNav. He guessed he'd pushed his luck with Domino and there was that whole getting shot thing, despite the fact that it was a minor flesh wound and a badly broken finger.

He sighed as he heard his front door open and close. "Leave it on the table. If it needs to be cold, find room!" They'd been coming by all day, first Ziva, bringing donuts and double-strength coffee for breakfast. Then Ducky, checking on his hand. McGee brought sandwiches and coffee for lunch. Abby'd brought over some gumbo for dinner. So at ten pm, this would be Vance or Tony. He was banking on Tony. Vance was still too pissed.

Tony had been there when Lee had brought up Kelly. And Tony knew him well enough to know just how shaken up he'd been. Tony'd been on a rampage of his own and Gibbs had known his senior agent would need to process everything before coming over.

He lifted his glass of bourbon, toasting himself. "Showtime."

"No chilling needed, Boss. Brought pizza, beer. You're not on any pain meds, are you?" Tony's voice was soft—deceptively so. Gibbs remembered those flashing eyes and the growl in Tony's voice from earlier all too well though.

"Flesh wound, broken finger, black eye," Gibbs retorted, rolling his eyes. "I'm fine, DiNozzo." He wanted to ask if Tony'd calmed down but he didn't dare. Tony had been volatile lately, both on and off the job

"Yeah I know. Why'd you take the time off? Cause SecNav asked?"

Gibbs smirked. "Tony, SecNav doesn't ask. He tells. He orders. And I'm not his favorite person right now." Gibbs had gotten a dressing down from both SecNav and Vance for his "irresponsibility", but they hadn't threatened his job, at least. And McGee was safe. Gibbs hadn't wanted McGee impacted for what was his decision.

"Guess so," Tony replied, putting a couple of slices of pizza on a plate and cracking the twist top on a beer. Gibbs took the food and drink without complaint and gave Tony a look.

"Ya joining me, DiNozzo? Hate to eat alone and this is your favorite, not mine."

Tony leaned against the workbench, taking a long drag of beer and Gibbs knew he was working out what to say. After all this time with Tony, he knew the man better than almost anyone else.

"You gonna ask?"

"Ask what?" at least Tony had the good grace to look shocked.

"If I would have gone to the lengths Lee did if I could have saved Kelly. And the answer is yes. You don't know what losing a child is like until you've experienced it." Gibbs paused, drinking down one gulp of the brew, and met Tony's eyes again. "You have a kid in danger, you do anything to save 'em. That includes treason—or murder."